Olaf Scholz To Pay Tribute To The Victims Of The German Knife Attack

After a deadly knife attack at a street festival, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will pay a visit to the city of Solingen, where a Syrian man, suspected of having ties to the Islamic State group, allegedly carried out the attack

The Deadly Knife Attack That Killed Three People

The knife attack led to the death of three people and injured eight others, shocked the country following the elections next weekend, and sparked a new controversy about immigration.

According to police, a 26-year-old Syrian man confessed and gave himself up to authorities.  

German anti-terrorism prosecutors have taken over the investigation and the man, suspending Issa Al H. on suspicion of attempted murder and belonging to a “terrorist group”. In a statement, the Islamic State group revealed that one of its members had carried out the rampant attack in “revenge” for Muslims “in Palestine and everywhere”. 

“The perpetrator of the attack on a gathering of Christians in the city of Solingen in Germany yesterday was a soldier of the Islamic State,” said the jihadists’ Amaq news agency on the Telegram messaging app.

People Of Solingen Gathered To Celebrate A Festival Of Diversity 

Thousands of people gathered in Solingen on Friday to celebrate a “Festival of Diversity,” one of several events organized to commemorate the city’s 650th anniversary.

Solingen with a population of around  160,000 people located between Duesseldorf and Cologne. Scholz is planning to pay tribute to the victims of the attack in the city, where flowers, candles, and messages have lined the streets since Friday night. 

A report by Bild and Spiegel estimated that the suspect, who allegedly carried out a deadly knife attack, arrived in Germany in December 2022. He was granted protected immigration status, a designation commonly given to individuals fleeing conflict-ridden regions like Syria.

The suspect was unknown to the security services as an extremist considered dangerous, said Robert Habeck, a German Vice-Chancellor. 

Since the Gaza war began on October 7 with the Hamas continuing attack on Israel, Germany has been on wide-awake for Islamist attacks. In recent times, the country has seen several attacks, including the most deadly attack that killed 12 people with a truck rampage at a Berlin Christmas market in 2016. 

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